Cuttack, Nov. 2: The Ravenshaw University Teachers' Association will stage a dharna on Friday to protest against the delay in implementing the Career Advancement Scheme and re-designation of teachers' nomenclature.

The teachers, who have been at loggerheads with the varsity authorities over the issues, have boycotted all non-teaching activities as a mark of protest for the past week. Their non-cooperation is likely to affect preparations for the varsity's proposed convocation ceremony, scheduled on November 28, sources said.

Besides, the varsity's administrative staff members are also under pressure to organise various activities ahead of a National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) team's inspection of the varsity infrastructure and facilities in December. It is the first time that a NAAC team will inspect the facilities after it was upgraded to an university in 2006.

An association member said their demands also included re-designation of assistant professors in place of lecturers and associates in place of readers - which had already been approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

"Few universities, including the Berhampur University and the North Odisha University, have already approved the scheme and begun the process of re-designating teachers. Unfortunately, it is yet to be implemented here," said association vice-president Smrutiprava Das.

Das said the state government had, in April 2016, issued a notification to implement the scheme and re-designate the teachers. "The association has decided to stay away from all non-teaching activities till our demands are fulfilled," said association general secretary Bikram Mishra.

Though there would be no considerable change in the teacher's pay structures, the association officials claimed that they were stressing on re-designation as other public and private universities in the country had already abolished the concept of lecturers and readers.

Sources said the re-designation process would ensure timely promotion of teachers according to the UGC norms.

The Ravenshaw University authorities, however, claimed that the matter for implementing the scheme and re-designation of teachers had been sent to the chancellor for approval.

"We are holding talks with the teachers, and they have assured us of their active support during the NAAC team's visit," said vice-chancellor P.C. Sarangi.